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Tuesday, February 7, 2012

TUSKEGEE AIRMEN SOAR ON THE SCREEN

RED TAILS, CHUCK DRYDEN AND BLACK HISTORY

By Doc Lawrence

The George Lucas movie, “Red Tails,” is a big box office hit and doesn’t need a whit of boost from me to bring in more royalties. My interest, beyond being superbly entertained was the Georgia connections to the movie: the fabled Tuskegee Airmen, the characters portrayed and even the music.

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LT. COL. CHUCK DRYDEN

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One of the actors in this movie is Elijah Kelley who is from lovely LaGrange, Georgia and hosted a premiere in the city featuring a museum exhibition on the Tuskegee Airmen. The multitalented Kelley also composed and performed the theme song from “Red Tails,” giving the movie added spiritual resonance and cultural authenticity.

One of the most famous members of the Airmen was an Atlanta resident. I met Chuck Dryden at one of the most memorable events of my career during a historic gathering hosted by Pat Epps at Atlanta’s Dekalb-Peachtree Airport in 2005. The occasion was the 90th birthday party honoring General Paul Tibbits who piloted a B-29 named the Enola Gay over Hiroshima in 1945.

Epps had pilots representing air force units the world over at the soiree. There was a big band playing Glenn Miller-style WWII hits and many of the senior former combat pilots who came could jitterbug like teenagers.

Dryden, confined to a wheelchair, was as active that night as any of the youngsters brought to the celebration. I spoke at some length with him, had the wonderful opportunity to thank him for all he and his fellow airmen did to defeat Nazi Germany and acknowledged that America was a far better place for the Tuskegee Airmen’s efforts that helped bring down terrible color barriers.

Late in the evening as I was getting a last Jack Daniel’s, I saw Chuck Dryden on the dance floor, swaying his wheelchair in an improvised dance step to the band’s rousing “Take The A Train,” Duke Ellington’s swing masterpiece. I later learned that his P-40 fighter plane was nicknamed "A-Train," and that Colonel Dryden titled his autobiography "A-Train: Memoirs of a Tuskegee Airman."

I never saw him again.

Lt. Col. Charles "Chuck" Dryden, one of the first Tuskegee Airmen, died in 2008 in Atlanta. He and his fellow airmen were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal at ceremonies in the White House. His many honors and accolades included service on the board of diretors ofthe National Museum of Patriotism in Atlanta.

NOTE: The 57th Fighter Group Restaurant is located at Dekalb Peachtree Airport. Another success from Pat Epps, It faces the runways, has a wonderful outdoor patio, serves the best Sunday brunch imaginible and is family friendly. Dancing on weekends in the lounge is a lagniappe. www.the57threstaurant.com .